Every Friday, Blue Jays Talk host Scott MacArthur will weigh in with his observations on the Blue Jays from the past week.
As I sit down to scribble my thoughts, it’s only occurring to me now how important Friday night will be at the Rogers Centre; more for what it represents than for anything that happens in the game itself.
When manager Charlie Montoyo broke the news of Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s impending call up after Wednesday’s loss to the Giants, I was on the air doing Blue Jays Talk. The off day came and went and as I hope you’ll understand, baseball isn’t as intense a focus on non-game days.
As I’ve said on the air and written previously, it’s time.
Danny Jansen was the first of the “next wave” of prospects to come up, but Vladdy is the beacon and his arrival ignites the hope of this city and country’s Blue Jays fans for at least most of the next decade.
I don’t know what Montoyo plans to do with his lineup. This discussion seems to focus on the “hype” around Guerrero and the desire by the more conservative fans not to apply too much “pressure” to the young man. I can only speak for me but, in this case, I don’t know what “pressure” really means. Vladdy is is a top-third-of-the-lineup bat. Why do we need to see him thrive hitting fifth or sixth before the trigger gets pulled on the obvious? Plop him in front of Justin Smoak and let’s see what happens. If he goes 0-for-4 with three strikeouts tonight it’s not because he cratered in the moment, it’s because sometimes guys go 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
As for playoff contention this season, nobody is expecting it and so there’s no pressure in that regard. If Vladdy performs to his enormous potential, if the lineup reasonably produces, if the pitching holds up and if the majority of the American League commits to mediocrity as its gold standard, anything is possible. Count the “ifs” in that almost run-on sentence.
Another thought…
Now that Vladdy’s in Toronto, the drum should begin beating louder for Cavan Biggio’s eventual call up to the Blue Jays. Like Guerrero Jr., Biggio comes from a Hall of Fame father. Craig Biggio had a brilliant 20-year run with the Houston Astros (1988-2007) and he did so, from a defensive perspective, effectively in three segments. Craig started as a catcher, morphed into a centre fielder and spent much of the back third of his career as a second baseman.
Cavan can play second base, first base, maybe third base in a pinch and the corner outfield spots. It’s not clear yet what will be his positional home. If he’s bouncing around, dad’s just a phone call away for advice.
Offensively, Biggio has been an on-base machine through his minor league career. Entering Friday’s action, Biggio has been on base following more than 52 per cent of his almost 70 plate appearances this season at triple-A Buffalo. Last year, Biggio posted a .388 on-base percentage in a full season at double-A New Hampshire, which included 100 walks. Since breaking into pro ball in 2016, which covers four stops including Short Season A-ball in Vancouver, his OBP is .372.
Biggio is 24. He’s not 20 like Vladdy or 21 like now-injured shortstop Bo Bichette. He played college ball at Notre Dame. There can’t possibly be much more development required.
This is the best part: Biggio is making it impossible to go ignored. When prospects dominate the high minor leagues they end up forcing their way on to big league rosters. Is Biggio an upgrade over even one of the nine or 10 players he’d be capable of replacing? If you think the answer is yes then you’d think it’s time for him to be in Toronto.
President and CEO Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins haven’t been the most popular duo since their arrival more than three years ago and some of that has been self inflicted. But what we’re starting to see with Guerrero – signed by ex-GM Alex Anthopoulos as a 16-year-old and developed under a new regime – and Biggio is the fruit of the farm system Atkins has been touting while the Blue Jays were trying to contend at the big league level in 2017 and 2018.
This is an exciting day. The biggest part of the future becomes a major player of the present.
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